The 9th – 15th March 2020 is Safer Sleep Week!

As the main focus of this years awareness raising, the Lullaby Trust have shared some valuable insight into infant sleep, and this information is pretty important as it is related to the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and also dispels some misconceptions about what is ‘normal’ for a baby and their sleep patterns.

As parents, many of us feel pressured and in some way at fault when people approach us with that old chestnut of ‘is he/she a good sleeper’, as well as when we hear that other babies are sleeping really well from an early age. It can make a parent feel that their baby isn’t normal, but the fact of the matter is that babies have short sleep patterns and it is very normal for a baby to wake regularly up until the age of one (and even beyond). All babies are different, and some may sleep well from an earlier age, but that doesn’t mean that your baby is out of the ordinary if they wake!

You can watch the video below.

How else can I make sleep safer for my baby?

To summarise their guidance (as well as the advice that a baby’s waking in the night is normal), they advise the following:

Never sleep with baby on a sofa/chair
If choosing to bed share, follow these safety tips
Always place baby to sleep on their back
Keep baby away from cigarette smoke (during pregnancy and after birth)
Sleep in the same room as baby for at least the first 6 months
Breastfeed if you can, as this reduces the SIDS risk
Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress
Don’t use a quilt or pillow until 12 months
Don’t let baby become too warm in their sleep environment
A safe cot is an empty cot – avoid bumpers (as these are only for decorative use), sleep nests, and other things in the sleep environment. Loose bedding and hats are also not advised.